Counter molding machine



March 2,1937. H BENMN 2,072,195

COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed sept. :50. 1935 4 sheets-sheet 1 MalCh 2,1937. L. H. BENNloN I COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 50, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 2' March 2, 1937. L. H. BENN'ION COUNTER MOLDING Mmmm FiledSept. 30, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Snventor March 2, 1937.

L. H. BENNION COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. :50,1935 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 PATENT orties COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE LeslieHugh Bennion, Leicester, England, assigner to United Shoe MachineryCorporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationSeptember 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,855 In Great Britain October 19, 193411 Claims. `(Cl. 12-66) This invention relates to machines for shapingshoe part blanks and is herein illustrated as embodied in a countermolding machine of the type disclosed in the United States LettersPatent No.

1,138,123, granted May 4; 1915, upon an application filed in the name ofR. A. Lancey.

- One type of heel stiifener or counter which has come into general usein the manufacture of shoes comprises a counter in which one or both l0of the wing portions are lengthened to extend well into the shank orwaist portion of the shoe in which it is assembled to provide support atone or both sides for the arch of the foot. It is an object of thepresent invention to provide an improved counter molding machine havingmechanism'particularlyadapted for quickly and conveniently shaping thewing portions of counters of this type. y

To this end and as illustrated, the invention consists in the provisionof a machine having molds for shaping the heel-end portion of a counterblank, wiping means to form a flange upon the blank and to shape thewing portions thereof, together with means adapted, during the movementof the wiping means, to control the pressure exerted upon the blank.Preferably and as shown, the molds have faces portions of which arecurved for cooperation witha Wiper member movable along the faces toshape the wing portions of the counter,A the Wiper member beingpivotally mounted so that it can conform to the curvature of the faces.Preferably too, the wiper member is forced against the blank by meanswhich is caused to yield by predetermined amounts dependent upon theposition of the wiper member, thereby to control the pressure of themember upon the blank.

The mechanism set forth is particularly effective for molding countersof the type referred to in view of the fact that although the curvatureof the extremities of the wing portions of the counters which are to bemolded may vary sharply, the pivoted wiper member adjusts itself to thevariations in the curvature without applying such excessivepressures tothe wing portions of the counter-blank as would tend to damage thematerial. This arrangement is also advantageous in that it facilitatesthe presentation of the counter blank to the machine rapidly and withoutlikelihood of injury to the operator.

The various features of the invention are described in the followingdetailed specification, are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings andwill be pointedV out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a portion of a counter molding machineembodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating details of thewiping mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating parts of the wipingmechanism in the position they occupy at the end of their wipingmovement;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of part of a counter molding machineembodying a modified form of the invention;

Fig.` 5 is a side elevation partly in section of th'e wiping mechanismshown in Fig. 4 with the parts in the positions they occupy before themachine commences to operate; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the position of the partsat the end of a counter molding movement.

`One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 ofthe drawings which show a counter molding machine comprising a frame Il)which supports an inner mold l2 and a pair of outer molds lli arrangedfor operation upon a counter such as a counter I6 (Fig. 3) to form thecurvature of the side walls thereof, a reciprocating wiper plate I8 forforming the flange portion 29 of the counter at the heel end thereof,and an auxiliary wiper plate 22 operable upon the counter blank to formflanged portions along the Wings of the counter. The mechanism foroperating the inner and outer molds and the wiper plate I8 is not shownin detail but may be of any construction common to the prior art such asthat of the above mentioned United States Letters Patent.

The auxiliary wiper plate 22 is pivotally mounted for movement outwardlyof the inner mold l2, thus to provide for variation in curvature of themold in producing the flanges on the wing portions of the counter. Tothis end the wiper plate I8 has pivoted to it a pair of depending arms24 pivoted at their upper ends on the ends of a pin 26 by which thewiper plate IB is connected to its actuating rod 28. The arms 24 areurged toward the wiper plate i8 by springs 3D surrounding studs 32secured in the wiper plate i8 and passing through openings in lateralextensions 33. of the arms. The springs 30 are confined between the arms2li and adjustable nuts 34 on the studs. Movements of the arms 24 towardthe wiper plate l are limited by an adjustable screw 36 threaded througha bar 38 joining the two arms together. At their lower-ends the arms 24carry the wiper plate 22 pinned to the arms by a pivot pin do whichextends through a block 42 forming part of the plate. A leaf spring 44secured to the pin 38 bears, at its lower end, against the lower marginof the block 42 and tends to swing the lower margin of the plate aboutthe pin 46 toward the inner and outer molds I2 and I4. Movement of thewiper plate 22 about the pin 46 in this direction is limited by theengagement of the plate with faces 46 (Fig. 3) formed on the lower endsof the arms 24. The upper part of the inner mold I2 is shaped formolding counters of usual form and below this part and merging into thefront face of the mold is a downwardly and forwardly extending curvedface 48 suitably shaped for the molding of the forwardly projecting wingportion or portions of the counter. The two parts of the outer molds I4are extended downwardly and their front faces are curved forwardly attheir lower ends as shown at 50 (Fig. 2).

'Ihe rear face 52 of the plate 22 is curved to conform to the curvatureof the inner and outer molds and as the wiper plate I8 and the wiperplate 22 move downwardly over the faces of the molds the Wiper plate canmove forwardly bodily about the axis of the pin 26 and can tip about thepin as it moves along the curved faces of the molds. Each of the outermolds has secured to it a track 54 against which the wiper plate 22bears as it moves along the curved portions of the molds. The frontfaces of the tracks 54 are curved to conform to the curvature of thecurved portion of the inner mold and extend slightly forwardly of thefront face thereof merging with the front faces of the flat parts of theouter molds I4. While the plate 22 bends over and presses the margin ofthe counter along the curved portion of the inner mold I2 part of thepressure of the plate is taken by the tracks 54 which prevent the loweredge of the plate from digging into the counter and possibly tearing itas it might do if the lower edge of the plate were forced forwardly byits engagement with the curved surface of the counter. The tracks 54 arepreferably slidably mounted in the molds I4 so that they can be adjustedto position more or less of their length beyond the forward faces of themolds, thus to control the pressure of the plate 22 against the counterbeing operated upon. 'Ihe lower edge of the plate 22 has a curved recess56 which engages the margin of the counter at the heel end and isoperative to turn in and mold the flange of the counter so that thepleats formed in the margin of the flange are more or less evenlydistributed about the heel end thereof.

In the operation of the machine after a counter blank has been placedbetween the inner mold and the outer mold and gripped by them the wiperplate I8 and the plate 22 are moved downwardly 'and the lower edge ofthe plate 22 is pressed rearwardly by the leaf spring 44, engaging theprojecting margin of the counter blank close to the molds, and operatesto turn the margin inwardly over the front face of the inner mold I2with a yielding pressure which is dei pendent upon the strength of thesprings 30. The

wiper plate I 8 presses the inturned flange against the inner mold I2with a considerably greater and unyielding pressure. When the plate 22reaches the curved parts 48 of the molds the plate rides along thetracks 54 and is moved forwardly by them about the pin 26 and about thepin 40, thus permitting the wiper plate to conform itself to the shapeof the curve. In its movement along the tracks 54' the plate 22 bendsthe margin of the counter inwardly over the inner mold I2 and presses itagainst the face of the mold. This arrangement thus enables asufficiently heavy pressure to be applied to the counter blank along thecurved parts of the mold effectively to mold the margins of the counteralong those parts without likelihood of damaging the material bypressure of the wiper plate 22 which increases as the plate moves alongthe curved portions of the molds due to the action of the springs 30.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative form of invention. Themachine shown therein comprises a frame 58, an inner mold 60, outermolds 62, and a slidable flange former 64 operated by an actuating rod66, these parts being similar to those embodied in the mechanism abovedescribed. The flange former 64 has pivoted to it a pair of dependingarms 68 which are pivotally mounted on a pin 'I0 carried by the flangeformer 64 with arms 68 at their lower ends carrying a pin 'l2 (Figs. 5and 6) upon which is pivotally mounted an auxiliary wiper plate 'I4having a curved work-engaging face 16. The pin I2 is in front of theface 'I6 of the plate and is positioned at about the middle of the plateconsidered heightwise thereof. The curvature of the rear face 'I8 of theplate I4 conforms to the curvature of the forwardly curved faces 'I8 ofthe inner and outer molds 60 and 62.

In order to maintain the auxiliary wiper plates 'I4 in engagement withthe faces of the molds the arms 68 are provided with a bar 80 which hassecured in it a pin 82 passing through a slot in a lug 84 extending fromthe plate 74, there being a spring 86 confined between the bar 80 andthe lug 84 for forcing the plate about its pivot 'I2 in a direction tomaintain the face I6 in engagement with the work as the wiper is moveddownwardly along the faces of the molds.

Pivotally mounted on the pin 'I2 are the rear ends of links 88, theforward ends of which are I pivotally connected by a pin 90 to links 92mounted upon a pin 94 carried by arms 96 extending forwardly from theflange former 64. Pivoted on the pin 90 are upwardly extending rods 98which pass through lugs |00 projecting outwardly from the flange former64. 'I'he rods 98 at their upper ends carry springs |02 which engage thelugs |00 and the adjustable nuts I 04 on the upper ends of the rods. Thesprings |02 act to press, through the links 88 and 92, the wiper plate'I4 toward the faces of the molds and against the ilange portions of acontour blank when positioned upon the inner mold. This arrangement oflinks 88, 92 and rods 98 operates to control the pressure of the wiperplate 14 against a counter blank as the plate moves along the curvedfaces 'I3 of the molds. As this occurs the springs |02 are compressedsince as the plate 14 moves forwardly the axes of the rods 98 approachthe axis of the pin 94 with the result that the increasing thrust of thesprings |02 due to their further compression is taken by the pin 94 andthe plate is pressed against the counter with substantially the samepressure as when the plate 14 is moving along the straight portions ofthe molds.

In the operation of the machine after a counter blank has been placedbetween the inner and outer molds and gripped by them the flange former64 and wiper plate 14 are moved downwardly and the lower portion of theplate, then held in the position shown in Fig. 5 by the spring |86,engages the projecting margin of the blank and turns the margin inwardlyover the front face of the inner mold with a yielding pressure whichdepends upon the force exerted by the springs |02 which tends to movetherod 98 upwardly and which is controllable by adjustment of the nuts |04on the rod. When the plate fifi reaches the curved faces 13 of the moldsthe plate is moved forwardly about the pin '|0 and tilts about the pin12. As the plate 14 moves about the pin the springs |02 yield permittingthe pin 90 to move downwardly and forwardly about the pin 94, as shownin Fig. 6, so that the increased pressure of the springs |02 caused byoutward movement of the plate is applied to the pivot 94 instead of tothe wiper plate thus avoiding any likelihood of marring the wingportions of the blank.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A counter molding machine comprising molds for shaping the side andrear portions of a counter blank and having faces portions of which arecurved, a flange former movable across the faces ofthe molds to form aflange on the blank, a wiper movable along the faces of the molds toshape wing portions of the blank, means for forcing the wiper toward thefaces of the molds, and means for limiting to an app-roximately constantamount the pressure exerted by the wiper upon the curved portionsthereof.

2. A counter molding machine comprising molds for shaping the side andrear portions of a counter blank and having faces portions of which arefiat and other portions of which are curved, a flange former movableacross at portions of said faces to form a fiange on the blank, a Wiperpivotally mounted upon the flange former and movable in advance thereofalong the faces of the molds to shape wing portions of the blank,yieldable means for forcing the wiper toward the faces of the molds, andmeans for limiting the pressure exerted by the Wiper upon curvedportions of the faces to an amount not substantially greater than thepressure exerted by the wiper upon the fiat portions of the surfaces.

3. A counter molding machine comprising molds for shaping the side andrear portions of a counter blank, a flange former movable along faces ofthe molds to form a flange on the blank, a wiper pivotally mounted uponthe liange former and in advance thereof for shaping wing portions ofthe blank, a pair of rods loosely mounted upon the flange former, linksconnecting the rods and the flange former, other links connecting therods and the wiper, and springs associated with the rods for moving therods and links in a direction to cause the wiper to exert pressure uponthe faces of the molds.

4. A counter molding machine comprising cooperating molds for shapingthe side and rear portions of a counter blank, a ange former movablealong the faces of the molds, a wiper pivotally mounted upon the flangeformer, and means for controlling the pressure exerted by the wiper uponthe faces of the molds comprising a pair of rods loosely mounted uponthe flange former, links conn-ecting the lower ends of the rods with theiiange former and with the wiper, and means for forcing the rods in adirection to force the wiper toward the faces of the molds.

5. A counter molding machine comprising cooperating molds for shapingthe body portion of a counter blank, one of the molds having anoutwardly curved face, a wiper movable along said face to shape wingportions of the blank, yieldable means for forcing the wiper toward theface, and means for maintaining approximately constant the pressureapplied by the yieldable means to the wiper as it moves along the face.

6. In a counter molding machine comprising inner and outer molds forshaping the side and rear portions of a counter blank, the inner moldhaving a face portions of which are curved, a wiper mounted for movementalong said face fo-r shaping wing portions of the blank, means forforcing the wiper toward the said face, and means for maintainingapproximately constant the pressure of the wiper against said faceduring the movement of the wiper along the curved portions thereof.

7. In a counter molding machine comprising molds for shaping the bodyportion of a counter blank and a flange former, a Wiper pivotallymounted upon the flange former and movable therewith along the faces ofthe molds to shape wing portions of the blank, links pivotallyconnecting the wiper and the flange former, a member for actuating thelinks to force the wiper toward the faces of the molds and movableangularly as the wiper moves along curved faces of the molds to maintainthe pressure exerted by the "1 wiper upon the molds approximatelyconstant.

8. A counter molding machine comprising cooperating molds for shapingthe body portion of a counter blank, one of the molds having a curvedface, a wiper movable along said face for shaping wing portions of theblank, and means for forcing the wiper toward. said face comprising atoggle which is yieldable as the wiper moves along said face to maintainthe pressure of the wiper upon said face approximately constant.

9. A counter molding machine comprising cooperating molds for shapingthe body portions of a counter blank, a flange former, a wiper memberpivotally mounted upon the flange former, yieldable means for forcingthe wiper member toward the faces of the molds, and means carried by oneof the molds for limiting inward movement of the wipers.

10. A counter molding machine comprising cooperating molds for shapingthe body portion of a counter blank and having curved faces, a flangeformer movable across the faces of the molds, a a wiper member pivotallymounted upon the flange former, yieldable means for forcing the wipermember toward the faces of the molds, and tracks carried by the moldsfor limiting inward movement of the wiper along the curved portions ofthe faces.

11. A counter molding machine comprising inner and outer molds forshaping the body portion of a counter blank, the inner mold having acurved face, a wiper movable along the curved face for shaping wingportions of the blank, and tracks carried by the outer molds andprojecting beyond the face of the inner mold for controlling thepressure ofthe wiper upon the face of the inner mold.

LESLIE HUGH BENNION.

